What Makes a Great Album?

Producing a great album has a lot of factors involved. Good sound, good attitude and a lot of hard work. But, you also have to ensure that the final package can also contribute to the final product. After all, Abbey Road is a fantastic album, but it is the cover which springs to mind when discussing the album by The Beatles.

So, what makes a great album cover that you can be proud to call your own?

Don’t Misuse Space

Album covers are not infinite. You have a set amount of space, usually around 4.75 inches by 4.75. Every centimetre of that space is precious and as such you need to be careful how exactly you use it. Typically, the more striking the photograph or artwork you use then the more likely someone will be caught by your album. Any wasted space could mean someone is less likely to listen to your album as they are not drawn to it in the same way. Moral of the story: treat every centimetre like a delicate commodity and craft the album of your dreams.

Does it Work as a Thumbnail?

Sometimes you have to consider your album from all angles before settling on a design. For example, does it look good as a thumbnail? Digitalisation is the next step for many people producing an album, as both physical and digital download is the main way people buy music in the modern day. Making your image smaller for a thumbnail may make it much harder to understand, for example, as if it is very detailed then this will not become obvious on the thumbnail. Ensure that your album is discernible for any size in order to make it much more user-friendly.

To Word or not to Word

One major decision that you need to make about your album cover is whether or not to have words on the album. In the modern era, you may be selling your album primarily online and so your audience will see your band name and album name in other ways. You can also attach a sticker for physical sales, which can then be removed. This leaves a lot of space for amazing graphics and no curb to how you express your creativity.

Put Your Face on It

The best way to sell yourself through your album cover? Put your own face on it. It’s an age-old trick, but one that has worked well for many bands in the past. As people begin to associate you with the album every time they listen to it, creating yourself as part of the brand alongside your music and band name. Creating a brand for your band is an important thing for your album to achieve, putting your face on it is one of the easiest ways to do so.